The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday dismissed the no-case submission filed by activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, in the cyberbullying case brought against him by the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged defamatory remarks about President Bola Tinubu.
Justice Mohammed Garba Umar ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case strong enough to require Sowore to enter his defence.
The DSS had arraigned Sowore on a two-count charge bordering on alleged cyberbullying, accusing him of referring to Tinubu as a “criminal” on his social media platform, X, formerly known as Twitter.
Sowore had asked the court to discharge and acquit him, arguing in his no-case submission that the prosecution failed to establish any link between him and the alleged offences.
However, Justice Umar ruled against the activist.
The judge held that the DSS successfully connected Sowore to the allegations and that the prosecution had presented enough evidence requiring a response from the defendant.
“In view of the evidence before the court, a prima facie case has been made out against the defendant requiring him to enter his defence,” the judge held.
Shortly after the ruling, tension erupted in the courtroom as Sowore accused the judge of bias.
The activist claimed he would not get justice before the court and urged Justice Umar to withdraw from the case.
Sowore requested that the case file be returned to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment to another judge.
He further alleged that the court was acting alongside the Federal Government to secure his conviction ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Sowore’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, also accused the court of favouring the prosecution during proceedings.
Abubakar formally requested that the matter be reassigned, insisting that his client had lost confidence in the court.
Counsel to the DSS, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), opposed the oral application and urged the court to dismiss it.
Kehinde argued that since Sowore was represented by counsel, he should not personally address the court on the issue.
In a brief ruling, Justice Umar directed Sowore to file a formal application for recusal, stating the reasons for the request.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter until May 19 for Sowore to open his defence and for hearing of the recusal application.
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